as in convinces
to cause (someone) to think or believe something by using methods that make a person unable to think normally
Terrorists brainwashed the prisoners. Does advertising brainwash children?
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brainwashes
Verb
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As previously announced, Burr plays a gruff American record-store owner who convinces a ragtag gang of teenage misfits that their best, and possibly only, chance to lose their virginity before graduating high school is at a massive open-air mass for the visiting Pope.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026 -
Alanya, a fitness influencerand Hana’s crush, convinces her to join an intense physical transformation program.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Whale lusts after a hunky gardener (Brendan Fraser) and persuades him to pose for a few sketches; Julian, though bisexual, expresses no such interest in Lori, and any art-making turns out to be a gratifyingly mutual endeavor.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The confidence heuristic explains why certainty persuades us.—
Nick Dothée,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That’s what really brings me satisfaction in making art.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
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The spa An ode to the Alhambra Palace, Spa Palmera brings the majesty and feel of the Moorish castle to Florida, thanks to an expansive 50,000-square-foot spa replete with arches, stone work, mosaic tiles, and a lush courtyard with a tranquil lap pool.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Each year, the event attracts hundreds of attendees who come to admire a wide variety of custom and classic vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, trucks and bikes.—
Anne Gelhaus,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Remove decaying wood that attracts wood-destroying pests.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lisa Lane is the founder of Rinseroo, which sells portable shower heads, bathtub, and sink attachments for cleaning, pet grooming, and bathing.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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Lisa Lane is the founder of Rinseroo, which sells portable shower head, bathtub and sink attachments for cleaning, pet grooming, and bathing.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Loot boxes in the crosshairs James alleges Valve entices players to pay for a chance to win a rare virtual item, and that those rare items can be traded for real money in accordance with their rarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Your starter entices with a spicy-tangy flavor, leading into the classic roasted chicken entree.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Many of the aforementioned artists have stayed, and something about the island induces curious projects.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
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They’re afforded more time and space at the AHL level and, for some players, that extra time induces them to try to do too much and ultimately make mistakes.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The research team set out to determine whether diet directly influences this fat buildup.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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El Niño and La Niña are opposite ends of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation -- a climate phenomenon based on water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that influences temperatures and precipitation around the globe, according to the NOAA.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Brainwashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brainwashes. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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